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Wilters , David Herculaas (D H)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
33888
Old ROH no.
1671
Service No.
75519041BG
Last Name
Wilters 1
First Name
David Herculaas
Initials
D H
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1952 (±1 yr) 288
Age at Death
25
Death Record
Date of Death
22 December 1977 100
Cause code
KIA 14,778
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, during a SWAPO attack on the temporary base in the Jati. The medic did his best at the time but lost the fight after 5 minutes
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
4 South African Infantry Battalion 97
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,852
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Free State 737
Cemetery
THEUNISSEN CEMETERY 5
Grave Reference
Panel 13 1
Coordinates
-28.39798, 26.70033 OSM
Memorial
1977 SAA (Kruger–Maquinda, Walker–Wilters) to 1978 SAA (Amorim–Cassamano, Hunter–Mandunga)
Names on 1977-1978 SAA Kruger-Mandunga
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
1977-1978 SAA Kruger-Mandunga
On the panel
1977 Army. Right column. 9th name from the top (Wilters D.H.)
Unit History
Part of
Infantry Formation (SAAIF) — Motorised Infantry — Regular
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes

Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. R. Wilters, of Theunissen.

Research notes

SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1977 SAA (Kruger–Maquinda, Walker–Wilters) to 1978 SAA (Amorim–Cassamano, Hunter–Mandunga)". 1977 Army. Right column. 9th name from the top (Wilters D.H.).
Mike Sandham's research log ("List 1"), imported 16 Sep 2026, credited to The South Africa War Graves Project unless his entry says otherwise: gives Age 18 against this record's 25. This record has no date of birth, so there is nothing to adjudicate with. Flagged, not changed.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Navy" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Army". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 2
by Steven Jansen on 20 August 2009 · via source
22 December 1977. David Wilters was serving on the Angolan border when the contact took place. He and the rest of his section of ten men were out on a standard ten day patrol in the Yati. He was stationed at Ombalantu at the time with 4SAI. He was a 60mm mortarist and partenered with Kevin Adank on this patrol. For some reason the Lt (Foster) in charge of the platoon as well as the platoon corporal (I think Singleton) were 'staying' at this particular shauna which is a kind of mini oasis where water would pool in the rain periods of January. The volcano like crater made a perfect base for the night and offered protection as well as the circular shape allowing the men to spread around the circumference. It was first light on the morning of 22 December 1977. The section leader had woken up and gone to relieve himself 50m away from the 'camp'. As he returned to his sleeping bag position all hell broke loose and there was a full scale contact. Kevin Adank was shot in the arm. David had also been shot and was in a bad way. Someone read from the only (english) bible to David as he lay there. The rest of the detail will be known only by those who were there. It was my bible that was used to read to David. Thirty one years later and I can still remeber his face.
by Vincent Phipson on 11 November 2011 · via source
Yes, David was mortarist but he was in charge of the 7,62 Browning machine gun that we had with us on that patrol. I remember this well as he had given me a lecture on this gun a few days before. I am not 100% sure but I seem to remember that an RPG rocket hit a battery box close to where he was sleeping and this was what caused his terminal wounds. A quiet, unassuming chap with perfect manners. I only got to know him because I was interested in the Browning. I will never forget David or that night.
Dedications 1
on 20 August 2009 · via source
Your spirit and memory will never die. 4 SAI